Carroting and drying of fur-bearing animal skins



March 23, 1948. NAUMBURG 2,438,226

CARROTING AND DRYING 0F FUR-BEARING ANIMAL SKINS Filed July 10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ATTORNEY m 3 9 T n\ I I 2 E x 0 XE x \Q Q Q Q J k T Q a, a

A INVENTOR. Foam? 15. IVAUMBURG I BYJ/Q Q 4 March 23, 1948. R. E. NAUMBURG 2,433,226

CARROTING AND DRYING OF FUR-BEABING ANIMAL"SKINS Filed July 10, 1944 Sheets-Sheet '2 v w oaoouquaaouncn 4 g I INVENTOR. ROBE/PT E. NAUMBURG BY? 7 z ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1948 CARROTING AND DRYING F FUR- BEARING, ANIMAL sums Robert E. Naumburg, West Englewood, N. J., as-

signor to Jonas & Naumburg Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 10, 1944, Serial No. 544,294

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to the art of treating fur-bearing animal skins and more particularly to treating skins the fur of which is to be separated from the skin or pelt for subsequent use in making felted products.

In the manufacture of felted articles such as hats, fibres having felting properties are demanded in vast quantities. For the most part the source of the fibres, as is well known, is furbearing animals; rabbit fur being most commonly used, although other furs are suitable for the purpose. Rabbit fur, by reason of relative cost, is more extensively used than any other for making felt Hats.

The raw or untreated fur in its natural state is considered unsuitable for hat making because the fibres lack the desired property of felting. To impart thereto the necessary felting properties it is customary in the art to treat the fur while still attached to the pelt with a carroting solution after which the fur-bearing skins are subjected to a conditioning treatment involving the drying of the carroted skins. Thereafter, the fur is removed from the pelt. As a result of the carroting and other treatment incidental thereto, there is imparted felting properties to the fur fibres.

In the various treatments to which the skins are subjected from the raw state through the stage when the fur is finally conditioned for making felted products such as hats, the skins are wetted or moistened. If wetted before the application of the carrot, the skins are normally dried prior to application of the carroting solution. Of course, the application of the carroting solution to the fur wets it to a greater or less extent. It has been the practice to subject the skins to a drying treatment after application of the carroting solution prior to removal of the carroted fur from the pelt. Accordingly, whether carried out before or after the carroting solution is applied to the fur the drying procedure is an important part or parts of the process of pro-g ducing fur fibres having the desired felting characteristics. i

Heretofore it was not uncommon practice when treating skins with a mercury carrot to dry the skins in trays in a chamber heated by steam pipes to about 260 F. The necessary drying could be done in about fifteen to twenty minutes but the skins were rendered yellow. The resulting coloration of the carroted fur made it undesirable for use in producing hats of light shade. v j

Those skilled in the art lwillunderstand, of

course, that there are difierent kinds of carrotin solutions and regardless of the type of solution used a treatment involving a drying operation is employed prior to removal of the fur from the pelts.

According to another method of drying heretofore employed the skins which have been treated with carroting solution (the so-called white carrot) are dried by advancing them on trays through a tunnel where the temperature advances in stages from about 120 to about 150 F. while circulating hot air through the trays. This method of drying ordinarily requires about ninety to one hundred minutes. Furthermore, this method depends primarily upon convected heat.

There are other methods employing convected heat in which the temperature of the drying chamber is maintained below F. but of course this requires much longer; twenty-four to forty-eight hours being not common.

The object of the present invention is to provide a difierent, and more rapid method of drying fur-bearing animal skins of the type above mentioned and also apparatus in which the method may be carried out. The invention provides a method whereby wetted or otherwise moistened fur-bearing skins are subjected to infra-red rays or radiant energy in the presence of an atmosphere maintained in turbulent state over and in contact with the skins.

According to a preferred method of practicing the invention, carroted skins to be dried are passed through a zone in which they are exposed to infra-red rays or radiant heat while simultaneously passing a-current of air at high velocity over and in contact with the skins, the intensity of the radiant energy being sufl'icient to cause singeing or burning of the fur but .for the efiect of the moving current of air over the skins.

In addition to the fur drying procedure just mentioned, the invention comprehends the preparation of fur having felting properties by a method which comprises applying a carroting solution to the fur-bearing skins and substantially immediately thereafter without intermediate conditioning, treating the skins in accordance with the above mentioned radiant heat drying procedure, after which the fur may, if desired, be immediately removed from the pelt by the usual cutting machines Without the necessity of any additional intermediate conditioning after the drying operation.

The apparatus which is described in further detail hereinafter and which I prefer to use in practicing the process of the invention on a commercial scale comprises, in general, (1) a heating chamber wherein is maintained a concentrated zone of radiant heat through which the skins to be dried are passed in such manner that the infra-red raysstrike the surfaces. of the skins,

(2) an elongate auxiliary drying tunnel com- 7 municating with the heating chamber through volume of air to pass at high velocity over and in contact with the skins as they are caused *to travel through the heating chamber and'its associated tunnel, and (4) .means for carrying the skins to be treated through the heating chamber and tunnel, such means being-preferablya pair of endless flat mesh conveyors arranged with their upper and lower runs respectively passing through the chamber and tunnel in adjacent spaced parallel relationship between whichjthe skins may be held without undue displacement as they are carried through the heating chamber and tunnel.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be ,particularly pointed out a in "the claims'appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objectsand advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying. drawings .forming a part hereof, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of apparatus in which the method of the invention may be practised. The view is partly diagrammatic .and also partly broken away; r

Fig. 2 is a vertical side'view in section tolarger scale through the heating chamber on line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a view on line -33 ofFig. ,2;

. Fig. 4 is a side view tolarger scale of-a brushing device, comprising a rotary :brush and associated guides; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing .thezguides,

Referring to the drawings, in which like :reference characters denote similar parts, the heating chamber, and its associated tunnel, designated generally by reference characters l0 :and 11, respectively, are mounted on suitable supporting or frame members l2. 'Both the chamber andtunnel are constructed of heavy sheet metal which is preferably heat insulated. Anysuitable insulation means may be employed; asbestos cement t3 being shown in the drawings.

An air duct I4 from an air *blower1l5 leads into the interior of the heating chambenthe entering air port ll extending across substantially. the entire width of the heating chamber. The air blower 15 takes suction through a conduit I8 through an air filter l9 as .it is desirable to employ clean air. The blower l5 may'be driven by a motor l5a or'other suitable prime mover and should be capable, of imparting a-hi-ghve-- locity head to the air discharged from the duct 14. A chimney connected to the tunnel ll near-its discharge end-is providedto' carry away the air passed into the'tunnelitogether-with'vapor or fumes which it picksup'from the skins being the chimney to aid in exhausting the air and fumes.

To convey the skins to be treated through the heating chamber and the tunnel, a pair of metal endlessopen mesh flat conveyor belts are provided. An upper conveyor belt 2 l is trained over rollers '22 andl'a driven roller. 23 and a lower conveyor belt 24 'istrained'over rollers25, 26 and driven roller 21. It will be apparent that a. sufficient number of rollers will be employed and spaced along the=runs of the belts to avoid sagx-ging'rand'such rollers may be mounted on suitable supports on the frame such as those indicated iby the reference characters 28 and 29 in Fig. 2

"and Fig. .3. .The rollers may be provided with sprocketgears -30 '(see Fig. 3) to engage sprocket .chains .3] awhi'chare fixed to the edges 'of'the conveyor belts. V V

It will be observed the upper run 32 of lower conveyor belt 24 extends beyond the upper conveyor belt at the head end of the machine thus providing a moving "feeder .platform 33 upon which skins to ;be treated (designated by reference character fill) :may besuitably placed and spaced. At the discha'rgeend of the machine'the lower run of the 'upper conveyor belt extends beyondthe lower-conveyor belt ito ac commodate the rotary brush 34 described in further detail hereinafter.

It will be 'furtherobserved 'thelower run 35 of the upper conveyor belt'2 l and-the upper run 32 of the lower conveyor belt 14 are maintained in adjacent spaced relationship as they passathrough the heating chamber and tunnel of-the-machine.

The two belts are caused to travel at the same drivenlby a sprocket-chain '36 -*trained-'-over'-sprockets mounted on the-rol1ers 28 and 2'i. Roller 21 is driven by a sprocket chain 3 trained over sprockets on' the roller 2-! and the driven shaft '38 of variable-speed speed reducer 39. The'speed V reducer which maybe of known type'is.driven=by a prime mover (not shown). Consequently, means -are provided to'drive the conveyor at any adjusted speed desired and {the arrangement or the conveyor belts is such that skins laced upon 'the travelling feeding platform 33 enter the bight of the .conveyor belts "and by reason of the skins then being between'the two be'lts *they are, in effect,- clamped and 'heldfirmly in fiatcondition as they pass through the heatingchamber and tunnel. It is to be understood, of course, the "conveyor .blts should be of 01361151116511 type to expose as much aspossible of the surfaces of the skins.

"The heating chamber :is :designed 1 to provide a zone of'radiantheat'and so fashioned that the infra-red rays=are projected upon the surfaces of the skinsas they are passed throughthe chamber. Although various means may be used'to produce radiant heat, in my preferred arrange- V ment there:are.providedra plurality of gas bumers lil-extending across the width'o'f the interior 7 l6 of the heating chamber. It will be observed,

asshown in the drawings, four such'burners are I disposed in the bottom wall F and one =such burner V plish the desired'amount of heating.

Each burner 4!! is equipped with an individual treated. An exhaust fan "20a is'mounted within 7'5 shut-'ofiwalveM-which-is connected-bye nipple 42 as a motor 48a.

The bottom wall of the heating chamber (see Fig. 2) is provided with refractory members 5| which are constructed of ceramic material. The spaces between the refractory members 5| and the burners are filled by filler members 5Ia whose surfaces may be of metallic or other material having good reflector qualities. It will be noted, the burner ports 52 direct the combustion mixture against the upwardly curved surfaces of the troughs 53 provided by the burners and ceramic elements 51 as indicated at 54. The ceramic elements 5! may thus be heated to incandescence. Like burners are likewise disposed'in the upper wall. The arrangement provides a substantial quantity of radiant heat concentrated in the heating chamberand the infra-red rays are directed into the path of travel of the skins 5B.

Each burner it is provided with a pilot burner 55 controlled by a valve 55. The pilots are connected to a manifold 51 supplied with gas from suitable source (not shown) The tip ends of the pilot burners are protected from the air blast through the heating chamber by pilot baiiles 58. By maintaining a pilot light at each gas burner the various burners may be turned on or ofi as desired without opening up the heating chamber. However the heating chamber In is provided with an insulated hinged door 59 at either side. The doors are provided with Windows 60 for convenience in observing the interior of the chamber.

At the discharge end of the tunnel II there is provided a rotary cylindrical brush 34 which may be mounted on suitable supports and driven in the direction of arrow 3% by a prime mover (not shown). The brush is provided at its periphery with relatively stiff but flexible bristles 6|, the outer ends of which contact the fur of the skins when they are passed through the machine fur side down. Cooperating with the brush and conveyor belts are guides 62 and 63, shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. The guides comprise fiat plates shaped preferably as shown in Fig; 4 and Fig. 5, mounted on shaft supports 64. The guides are positioned and fixed so that their upper edges serve toclamp the skins discharged from the pair of conveyor belts but permit the upper run 35 to carry them forward into contact with the bristles 6! of the rotating brush and. finally over the guide 63 from which they are delivered to chute 55. The skins may be discharged from the chute into a suitable collecting bin or otherwise handled. While the rotary brush may, in some instances, be dispensed with, it is useful to brush out the fur on the treated skins to separate the fibres and to remove dags, if present.-

The machine which has been described, may be hand-fed and may be used for drying raw uncarroted skins but it is particularly adapted for treating skins which have been carroted. Moreover, the machine lends itself admirably to a system of carroting and drying without time consuming intermediate conditioning, and its use results in saving in labor and floor space.

According to the invention there is provided a machine adapted for carroting and drying in a continuous operation. The carroting step may be carried out on that part of the machine shown more or less conventionally in Fig. 1 and designated by reference character 10. In general, this part of the machine comprises a feeding platform H, an endless fiat rubber conveyor belt 12, to carry skins to be carroted past the rotating brush [3 which picks up carroting solution from a bath 14 of the solution in tank 15. Additional brushes 16 and guides 11, such as those shown in Fig. 4 are provided for brushing the solution into the fur as the skins pass, pelt side up, through the carroting machine. The skins with the solution well brushed into the fur are delivered on to the moving platform 33 where they may be inspected, if desired, prior to being carried directly through the drying machine. While only one carrot applying roll 13 has been shown for illustrative purposes, two or more such applying rolls may be provided for the purpose of applying the carrot in divided portions. In my preferred practice, I prefer to apply the carroting solution in two or three portions, brushing it in well after each application. This practice results in a saving in solution without sacrifice to effective chemical reaction brought about when drying the carroted skins "according to the drying process of my invention. I

While other apparatus for practising the method of my invention may be suggested by the disclosure herein the following is set forth as one manner of carrying out the process. And for purposes of illustration the process is described in connection with the treatment of rabbit skins although other animal skins whose fur is used for producing fibres having felting properties may be treated in accordance with the invention.

It may be assumed the raw skins have been dried preparatory to application of the carroting solution and such drying may be performed in the apparatus constructed according to the foregoing description. The carroting solution may be applied in any known manner either by hand or machine brushing as mentioned hereinbefore. Any of the well known types of carroting solutions, of which there are a number available, may be employed. I preferably carrot the skins by machine.

Upon delivery of the skins from the carroting machine, the fur is wetted by the solution. Whereas, under prior practices, it is customary to pile the skins and allow a considerable time to elapse to permit of the desired chemical reaction upon the fibres prior to drying, such delay incident to "piling is not necessary when practising the method of my invention. According to my preferred practice the skins are delivered directly from the carroting step and dried immediately thereafter without the delays incident to intermediate conditioning.

The skins are fed to the feeding platform 33 of the drying machine fur side down. The skins 50 are clamped between the adjacent pair of parallel conveyor belts. They then pass fur side down into the interior It of the heating chamber l0 wherein the gas burners are 'in operation. A sufficient number being used to insure a sufficient amount of radiant heat for the quantity of skins passing through and the rate of speed of the conveyors. Air blower l5 supplies a continuous blast of air which is discharged from the port I! into the heating chamber. The air enters the heating chamber as its head end.

As the infra-red rays strike the skins 50' and ane and is :absorbed and converted into :heat mrhile' simultaneouslythe alr'blast striking theffur keeps the furzsufiicientlycoolvtosavoid singeingmr burning. Moreover, the :air :current maintains :a turbuleneeadiacent the. skinsawhich aids vevaporationand-tends torkeep:the individnalzfibresdnza state :of agitation nzherehy they are ;more effectively exposed to :the i heat :rays when considered as individual fibres. This :aids in accelerating chemical reaction :of :the ;carrot on :the fibres. The skins then-pass into .therauxiliaryxdrying 'ftunn-el I-l wherethe drying is continued whileathe air at high velocity travelsover :them in 'thessame direction "to carry away evaporatedzmoisture 'ami fumes and :where the skins are zprogressivel'y cooled prior to discharge from the' tunnel. The air and fumes are :continuously exhausted through the chimney-211 with #the aidof :the "EX- haust fan a. As :the dried skins:are discharged from tunnel l l :they are brushed on the furrside bythe bristles fi lco'f-rotating brush 3'4, thisbrushing serving to loosen and separate any .cl-otted fibres or 'dagsl" If desiredgtheskins:mayrthen be delivered directly to :the cutting machines to remove the carroted fur =without intermediate conditioning, such as treatment in. a piling room or conditioning room which has heretofore been common practice.

By way-of ;examplefiior illustrative purposes, I have treated skins with excellent results in :the following manner; 'The-rabbit'skins after-being dried were treated :with a carroting solution known 'in the trade as f'BealMcGregor carrot and immediately thereafter dried in a machine =as1illustrated in the-drawings. The heating chamber and tunnel was approximately"thirtyzin'ches :wide

inches wide. "The heating chamber 16 :was approximately twelve inches .deep :per-mitti-ng {Of of :skins, to? marrot, strength as matron. amount mi rcarrot applied, speed of tcnnveyo moisture :present :and zconsiderations. With the dseachings :of Ithenlisciosure, .it -will rbe azmatter of radiustingithe mperation :oi the machine'to obtain 'cthe desired amount :of :drying when {the skins are -.dischar.ge'd 51mm :the :auxiliary :drying tunnel.

and accommodateda conveyoribelt twenty-eight 7 placing-the burnersc lfl:aboutlfive:inches rflomthe path of travel. of ithe. skins :50. The auxiliary-tum nel Ji l connected tothe heating' chamber :was of a the same :width as the heating chamber "and at its 'head end about thesamerdepth'of the heating chamber; the bottom wall. of :the tunnel beingtinclined upwardly for'aa short distance .of .::about three feet and then the tunnel H throughoutsits twenty :foot length was *reduced to about six inches in 'depth. The-tunnel therefore .waszssuch as to insure a high :velocityzto ':the :air massing through :it, "the .linear velocity :of the .;air zgreatly exceeding :the irate of "travel :of skins.

:was delivleredrthrough"air ductzl'mintotthe heating chamber :at approximately 60.00 $2. :M. :and'the burners :.40:were.:fired tormaintain 317172111- ;perature :just beyondythe discharge =end of :the heatingmchamber .15 atnboutBQOhEgindicattedtby a thermometer Theihelt conveyors 'ZI .and24 were operated at a lineakspeed=whichgallowedathe skins :to pass :the zone .of wadiant heat in Lthe i-heatingchamberzin about twentygseconds and it will doe seen :from the foregoing idescription that my invention provides a rapid ;method of drying :animal "the .:fur or :which .:is :treated to impartzthereto:ieltingiproperties. :The drying is accomplished Joy :subj acting the skins :to infraned rays in :a :hightemperature rzone zunder iconditions which accelerate .:the desired :chemioal reaction between narrating solution and zthe :fnr

fibreswithoutisingeing L01 burning. Elihe dryin treatment ilends itself to a combined :system 19f carroting :treatment and drying without intermediate :conditioning and there :is provided :a brushing operation :aftor .drying,:.ii such brushing iszdesire'ci. The-various;features:..ofithe invention effect a :saving :of labor. :time and horn space. Moreover, .less :,ca-rroting resolution may "be used than 1in. ;prior;practices to produce the desired result. .C.onsequen.tlx; there'is l,ess :liquid ;to evaporate-Mithdessitime:reguired to evaponateiit, as well :as savings in ichemicals. lvloraover, iiur from :skins treated according to ithe :invention' the :invention' :comprehended by :the z-a'nnexe'dl claims.

Whatiisflaimediis:

in :the :art pi preparing fiur Lfor felting, ia method-:oitreating furhearinganima'l skinsifrom which-saidliuranaysbe produced which comprises passing ithe ifureoearing :skins which have :been moistened bythezapplicationrof carroting solution thereto through a :zone 0f radiant heat :energy, wherein :the radiant heat .rays -'strike "the f-ur, simultaneously passing :air over said :skins while said: skins arexpassing through said zone whereby the atmosphere adjaeentthe fur is maintained in astate {of turbulence, said radiant Zheat being of suifi'cient intensity to singe the fur if -=said:atmosphere iis maintained quiescent.

*In the art of =preparing fur -for fe'lting, method'offtreating i'ur bearinganimal sliins from which said 'Tur-maybe'produced which comprises applying carrot solutionto the *fur on said skins whereby to moisten the fur fibres with said-solution, passing the skins through-a zone ofr radiant heat :rays While maintaining said skins in fixed spaced relationship and wherein the radiant' heat rays strike the fur -on the skins whereby the chemical reaction o'f the ca-rrot solutiomuponthe iur ifibres 'is *accelerated, simultaneously pass'ing arcu-rrent of ainover and in 'contact-with'ithe fur whereby. overheating-of theifur fibres is inhibited, the I intensity ofsaidrays {being --sufiicien-t -to singe said *fur in the :absenceof said air-current.

3. 'In the :art of preparing' fur for feltingya :tions'ibeeauseidf variables introduced with kind i375 1bearing 'animal skins*irom which'said fur may be produced which includes the steps of applying a carroting solution to the fur side of the skins, thereafter passing the carroted skins through a zone of radiant heat rays whereby the heat rays strike the fur on the skins and passing a current of air over and in contact with the fur, the intensity of said rays being sufficient to singe said fur in the absence of said air current and said air current being sufiiciently strong to prevent singeing of the fur.

4. A method of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises applying a carroting solution to the fur on the skins and thereafter subjecting the skins to the action of radiant heat energy whereby the infra-red rays of the radiant heat energy strike the fur and the fur fibres absorb heat from said rays to accelerate the chemical reaction of the carrot upon said fibres and to effect evaporation of liquid from said applied solution and passing a current of air simultaneously over andadjacent said fur whereby to accelerate the evaporation and prevent the fur from becoming singed, said radiant heat energy being of sufiicient intensity to sings the fur fibres when the adjacent air is maintained quiescent. v j

5. A method of treating and drying fur-bearing animal skins which comprises applying carroting solution to the fur on said skins, thereafter passing said skins through a first zone wherein is maintained a source of intense radiant heat energy the infra-red rays of which directly strike the fur on said skins whereby the skins are heated and chemical reaction of the carroting solution on the fur fibres and evaporation of said solution are accelerated, simultaneously passing a current of air over said skins in said zone in the direction of travel of said skins whereby the air is heated to a temperature within the range of 150 F. to 500 F., then passing said skins through a second zone wherein the drying is continued by passing the air over the fur of said skins in the same direction whereby fumes and moisture evaporated from said skins are carried away.

6. A method of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises applying carroting solution to the fur on said skins, then passing said skins through a first zone wherein is maintained a source of intense radiant heat energy so that the infra-red rays of the radiant energy directly strike the fur on said skins, simultaneously passing a current of air over said skins in said zone in the direction of travel of said skins whereby the current of air is heated to a temperature within the range of 150 F. to 500 F., then passing said skins through a second zone wherein said current of air is passed over the fur of said skins in the same direction at a velocity greater than the speed of movement of said skins and maintaining said skins in fixed spaced relationship while passing through said zones.

'7. A method of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises applying carroting solution to the fur on said skins, thereafter passing said skins through a first zone wherein is maintained a source of intense radiant heat energy whereby the infra-red rays of the radiant heat energy directly strike the fur on said skins, simultaneously passing a current of air over said skins in said zone in the direction of travel of said skins whereby the temperature of said air increases while in said zone to a temperature within the range of 150 F. to 500 F. then passing said skins through a second zone wherein the temperature is reduced and said current of air is caused to pass over the fur of said skins at a velocity greater than the speed of movement of said air while in the first zone.

8. A method of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises applying carroting solution tothe fur on said skins, thereafter passing said skins through a first zone wherein is maintained a source of intense radiant heat energy having infra-red rays directly striking the fur on said skins whereby the skins are heated and chemical action of the carroting solution is accelerated, simultaneously passing a current of air over said skins in said zone in the direction of travel of said skins whereby the temperature of said air is raised to between F. and 500 F., then passing said skins through a second zone wherein the temperature of the heated skins is gradually reduced and the air is passed over the fur of said skins at a velocity greater than the speed of movement of said skins.

9. A method of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises'applying carroting solution to the fur on said skins whereby to moisten the furwith said solution, thereafter passing the skins through a first zone wherein is maintained a source of radiant heat energy, passing said skins through said zone wherein the skins are struck by the infra-red rays of said radiant heat energy, simultaneously passing a current of air through said zone over said skins whereby said air is heated to a temperature within the range of about 150 F. to, about 500 F., and thereafter passing said skins through a second zone wherein said current of air flows past said skins and is gradually reduced in temperature and continuing the movement of said skins in said current of air for a period suflicient to dry said skins.

10. A method of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises applying a carroting solution to the fur of said skins whereby to moisten them with' said solution, thereafter passing the skins through a zone wherein is maintained a source of radiant heat energy, passing said skins through said zone wherein the skins are struck by the infra-red rays of said radiant heat energy, simultaneously passing a current of air through said zone whereby said air is heated to a temperature above 300 F. but not substantially above 500 F., and thereafter passing said skins through a second zone wherein said current of air is passed over said skins and the temperature of said air in its course of travel is gradually reduced and continuing the movement of said skins in the current of air for a period sufiicient to dry said skins.

11. A process of treating fur-bearing animal skins which comprises carroting the skins by passing the skins through a carroting zone where carroting solution is applied to the fur fibres of the skins and then passing the skins without substantial interruption of their movement through a drying zone wherein is maintained a source of radiant heat and the fur fibres of the skins are subjected to the infra-red rays of said heat, passing a current of air over and in contact with the fur while in said heated zone whereby said air is heated to a temperature within the range of 150 F. to 500 F. and continuing the movement of the skins in the path of travel of the current of air whereby the skins are dried, said carroting and drying steps being effected in a single substantially uninterrupted pass of the skins through said zones.

12. In the art of producing fur for felting, a

H fi'ietl'iodof fireartingiui fhearing airiimail'skins In??? par-story 'to removal of the fur" from the siein's wHich comprises treating the: fur on the: skins with a solution of carrotingagentin: a carroting zone; thereafter passing said. skins through aizone wherein is maintainedia' source of intense radiaint heat the infra-red rays of which arerdire'ctedionto saidilskinsitlirouglm'e second zone'wherein the temperature isireduced and continuing the movement: of said skins without: substantial interruption; of: their movement until dry whereby the skins are-carroted" and'dried' in a single substantiaily uninterrupted pass.

the f ur'ofthe skins, passing ecunrentofiairover andi'n contact with said skins in the zone -wherein is maintained the radiant heat whereby and wherein reaction of said: solution. on thefunflbres and evaporation of the soi'uti'on is broughtabout andthereby drying: the skins and brusl'ring'the driedfur on the skins I to ioosendogs. said carrotmg, drying and brushing being carried out me? chemically in a; single substantially uninterrupted paiss o f the" skinsthrough said zones wherebythe" carroti'ng; drying and brushingis perfonmed as wcontinuous process without intermediate manual handlingof the skins.

13. A method of treeting fur' bearing' animal skin's which. comprises applying carroting solution: to the fur: on? said. skins: whereby the: fur: is moistemed with said. solution; thereafter: amiwithout: substantial; interruption of the: movement. or said. skins; passing said: skins through. a

first heated zonewhereinis maintained a source.

150 F.1to. 500. F. and-evaporationoffsaici solution from'thefurfibres is: accelerated then; passing ROBERT-E. NAUMBURGZ REFERENCES. CITED. Thefoliowing' references are of record in the me of this patent;

. UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name V Date [1,463,923 Nelson .LL Aug. 7, 1923 1 ,509;6'7 3-: Kerst Sept. 23, 1924 1560,589 v Andrews Nov.'1'0, 1925 1 ,6421928' Koch's 1 Sept. 20, 1927 137651046 Beal June 17,1930 158246 1" Weber Oct. 11, 1932 2,087585'7f Fabian July- 20, 1937 2 1'01, 3U1 Welliner Dec. '7, 1937 2 197776 Argah'rite; Apr. 23', 1940 2204;802 Gessler June 18, 1940 2,220,928 Kienle et a1 Nov. 12,1940 2334513 Tomaino' Mar; 11, 1941 22813134 Dykstra et al. Apr; 28, 1942'" 22843838 Oho1m June2, 1942 23349;300 Gisen May 23, 1944' 2,355,671 Naeher'etal'. Aug. 15', 1944 2,374,936

' OTHER. REFERENCES Public: Health: Bulletin: Number 234, U. S.

Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,438,226. March 23, 1948.

ROBERT E. N AUMBURG It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 2, line 21, for the word common read uncommon; column 6, line 74, for as after chamber read at; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F, MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents, 

